Caprese salad
Insalata Caprese
Although it is so simple it borders the obvious there is no way around Italian cooking without including a caprese salad.
As the name indicates the caprese salad recipe comes from the island of Capri, but to many Italians it is a national emblem like the flag with the symbolic colours of green for hope, white for faith and red for charity. This may explain why it is served as a starter in all Italian restaurants throughout the world. In winter it can be a sorry sight with greenhouse tomatoes and tasteless fior di latte, but when the tomatoes are ripe, the basil is fresh and strong, and you can buy real mozzarella di bufala in the deli, there is nothing better.
Ingredients
300 g tomatoes
100 g mozzarella
Olive oil
Fresh basil
Preparation
Wash the tomatoes and cut them in slices or wedges.
Drain the mozzarella cheese and slice it up in regular bites.
Drizzle with olive oil and cover with showers of fresh basil.
Serve the caprese salad immediately
Alternatives to caprese salad
Does it get much better than fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, good olive oil and basil
Mette, this is an awesome dish – so hot here and the salad would be so very refreshing.
You’re right – cheese, tomatoes and basil go great with the heat.
Yum! And too funny. I’m eating a caprese salad as I’m reading this. Only with balsamico on it – and no basil. Can’t seem to manage to keep plants alive for longer than 5 minutes…
Tasty coincidence – and the ease of basil growing is one of the major differences between Italy and the Scandinavian countries.
a simple and perfect dish! (ps hi! found you via twitter and loving your blog)
That’s very kind. Thank you so much:)
It is not summer if there is no caprese salad. This year I am traveling too much to grow basil at home so I have to cough up the money for the overpriced fresh stuff at the grocery store. Still – it’s a little bit of heaven.
True – and the dried version is good for absolutely nothing in my opinion.
The red, green and white are so vivid, the salad looks so fresh and delicious, I could eat it right off the plate!
I’ll definitely have to try this one, Mette.
Great salad choice :) I can honestly say, that Caprese salad is a staple food of mine, summer, winter – any season!
I abstain in the winter when the mozzarella is watery and the basil and tomatoes are tasteless. That way it’s a miracle every time a new season starts.
One of my FAVORITE dishes especially when visiting Italy and only the freshest of ingredients are served! Such a delicious post!!
Thanks – I’m glad I could whet your appetite.
Yummy! Thank you for the recipe :)
You’re welcome.
Thank you for stopping by my blog yesterday! I had to pass over your last post with the snakes *shudder*…sorry! But, I moved on to your food posts and they look delicious! I think I will make this Caprese Salad. I’ve been on a salad kick lately along with the other foods I enjoy :)
Sounds healthy.